The Mating Strategy of the Male Short-tailed Cricket Anurogryllus muticus de Geer

Males of Anurogryllus muticus de Geer call with a sound intensity of 92–95 dB SPL/20 cm. The nightly calling time is 198 ± 79.5 min. Singing begins with the onset of darkness, and is under circadian control (τ_LL = 25.35 h). At 27 ° C, O₂-consumption during rest is 1.7 ml/h/g, whereas for calling O₂-consumption rises to 10.76 ml/h/g. According to the CO₂/O₂ ratio, A. muticus burns carbohydrates and lipids at rest, but mostly lipids during stridulation (R = 0.8). The type of fuel oxidized is rapidly adjusted to the particular behavior expressed. The testes serve as a reservoir for lipids, and their lipid level rises from 33.2 ± 15.4 μg/mg tissue at the imaginal molt to 95.2 ± 43.1 μg/mg tissue by the age of 30 days, although by that time testis size has shrunk by 90 %. Multiple, brief matings compensate for short calling times due to high energy expenditure. Comparative data for Teleogryllus oceanicus and T. commodus are given, where appropriate.